“So far as the resolution goes of the lady population, though Julius is sanguine, and hopes to avert it. After all, I believe the greatest obstructive to improvement is Moy.”
“Old Mr. Proudfoot’s son-in-law?” said Jenny. “I know he has blossomed out in great splendour on our side of the county, and his daughter is the general wonder. Papa is always declaring he will set up in opposition to you.”
“Not much fear of that,” said Raymond. “But the man provokes me, he has so much apparent seriousness.”
“Even to the persecution of Dr. Easterby,” put in Julius. “And yet he is the great supporter of that abominable public-house in Water Lane, the Three Pigeons—which, unluckily, escaped the fire. He owns it, and all those miserable tenements beyond it, and nothing will move him an inch towards doing any good there!”
“I remember,” said Jenny, “papa came home very angry on the licensing day; the police had complained of the Three Pigeons, and the magistrates would have taken away the license, but that Mr. Moy made such a personal matter of it.”
“You don’t mean that he is a magistrate!” exclaimed Julius.
“Yes,” said Raymond. “He got the ear of the Lord-Lieutenant.”
“And since he has lived at the Lawn, they have all quite set up for county people or anything you please,” said Jenny, a little bitterly. “Mrs. Moy drives about with the most stylish pair of ponies; and as to Miss Gussie, she is making herself into a proverb! I can’t bear them.”
“Well done, Jenny!” exclaimed Julius.
“Perhaps it is wrong,” said Jenny, in a low voice. “I dare say I am not just. You know I always did think Mr. Moy could have cleared Archie if he would,” she added, with a slightly trembling tone.